It’s only been two years since the Jaguar S-Type’s last facelift, but the Big Cat has received another package of cosmetic and suspension changes.
It’s only been two years since the Jaguar S-Type’s last facelift, but the Big Cat has received another package of cosmetic and suspension changes.
It doesn’t seem that long since a black S-Type featured prominently in the music video of pop icon Sting’s song . The image of the car, immediately distinguishable by its Jaguar Mark II-inspired styling, wafting through a desert at sunset, catapulted the S-Type into the collective consciousness.
However, time has not been overly kind to the retro-lines of the S-Type – necessitating the mild facelift that was carried out two years ago. And following the recent launch of the avant garde-looking BMW 5 Series, the S-Type will get new panels for its bonnet and boot, matched to a new grille, rear lights and bumper.
As these pictures show, the facelift is subtle but does give the S-type a more modern look. Most prominent is the new aluminium bonnet, which saves 11kg in weight and features a more pronounced central ridge that tapers towards the new grille.
The more upright grille is based on the design employed on the R-D6 concept – which itself was one of the biggest attention-grabbers at last year’s Frankfurt Motor Show. Inspired by the D-type’s grille, its shape is wider and shorter than the old one.
“The whole front of the car has a crisper, more powerful look and stance,” said Jaguar design director Ian Callum. He has also reduced the pronounced droop in the S-type’s boot by raising the lid by 25mm. The boot features a sweeping new plinth for the Jaguar badge, stretching the full width of the lid.
Inside, a metallic trim option is available for the first time, plus a new instrument display. Retuned dampers and low-friction ball joints complete the below-the-skin updates.
“The facelifted S-Type range will be launched on the local market around the end of March,” FMCSA’s Premier Automotive Group spokesman Lesley Sutton told CARtoday.com.
Asked whether the range will include a derivative powered by the new 170 kW-plus, 500 N.m-plus 2,7-litre twin-turbo V6 diesel engine, Sutton said: “The range will remain the same at first and the diesel should become available in the third quarter of the year”.